The Hall brothers, Thatcher and Porter, brought home a top three finish for Cape Hatteras Secondary School at the DECA Regional Competition in Greenville. This achievement is all the more impressive considering the small size of their school's DECA program, which competes against much larger schools with dedicated marketing pathways. Despite this, Cape Hatteras Secondary has a long history of strong showings at both the regional and state levels.
The brothers competed in the Hospitality and Tourism Team Decision Making event, where they addressed a hotel restaurant manager's struggle with long wait times, overcrowding, and declining online reviews. Their recommended strategies to improve guest satisfaction included adding outdoor seating, developing a rooftop bar with live music, and using peak-hour data to better staff the restaurant.
Their performance earned one of the day's highest scores, technically tying for first place with three other teams. However, the tiebreaker was decided by a 100-question written exam, which placed them in third. Despite this, their showing is still considered worthy of the top spot by DECA Club leader and CHSS teacher Darren Moore.
The experience was both challenging and rewarding for the Hall brothers, especially after weeks of preparing together and reviewing past scenarios. Porter, who has competed for four years, said sharing the experience with his younger brother made this regional especially memorable. Thatcher, a freshman who hasn't even taken a marketing class yet, showed remarkable performance, which has brought out the best in both brothers.
The fast-paced events at the competition teach students professional communication, critical thinking, confidence, and adaptability. With a regional trophy secured, the Hall brothers and the Cape Hatteras DECA team are now shifting into preparation mode for February's state competition in Greensboro, continuing a decades-long legacy of DECA excellence at Cape Hatteras Secondary School.
